Age 5 plus
Mr Darwin’s Tortoise
Angela McAllister and
Chiara Fedele
SET sail for an adventure in the Galápagos Islands with the
world’s greatest scientist! To celebrate this week’s International Darwin Day,
introduce your youngsters to the brilliant evolutionary biologist with this
charming and gloriously illustrated picture book story from award-winning
children’s author Angela McAllister and Italian illustrator Chiara Fedele. Mr Darwin’s Tortoise imagines an inquisitive boy who meets
Charles Darwin and discovers a shared sense of wonder for the natural world.
Antonio lives in the Galápagos Islands and wants to know everything about
everything… he never stops asking questions! One day he meets a stranger called
Mr Darwin, a scientist who also asks a lot of questions. Antonio shows him the
wildlife around the island, including the cactus trees and lizards and the
tortoise eggs which have yet to hatch. In return Mr Darwin shows Antonio all
the things he has collected on his travels, like his beetle collection, rocks,
plants and ancient fossils. When the tortoises hatch, Antonio gives one to Mr
Darwin as a present, so that he always remembers his visit to the islands and
his young friend. This beautifully created book, which features accurate
illustrations of Darwin, his ship The Beagle, and Galápagos flora and fauna, is
the perfect, child-friendly introduction to the famous evolutionary scientist
and his groundbreaking discoveries.
(Zephyr, hardback, £12.99)
Boy vs Reality
James Fox
DISCOVERING what social media can do to people is always
sobering so here’s a funny, gripping and relatable story about real life versus
the online world which gently asks youngsters to consider what’s more
important… fame or authentic happiness? Boy vs Reality is the second book from multi-award-shortlisted
author James Fox and features his trademark blend of observational humour and
glorious heart with a lovable lead character and a clever, nuanced take on
Instagram/YouTube vs Reality. Ethan Lacey is the youngest member of online family vlogging
sensations Meet the Laceys. The Laceys are Ethan, his mum, dad and big brother
Mason, and they film and upload their wholesome, everyday slice-of-life details
for their million subscribers to enjoy… the pranks, the cosy family time, Dad’s
passion for his camper van, the perks like going to the opening of an epic new
theme park, and meal-prep Mondays. They are the perfect family... aren't they?
But reality is not all fun and freebies. Behind the scenes, Mum and Dad have
been arguing a lot recently, Dad is pretty much living in the camper van, and
Mason has been picking on Ethan. Determined to keep up appearances, they are
pretending that nothing is wrong but when the cracks start to show, Ethan is on
a mission to persuade his family to fix the real world rather than fixating on
the online one. Fox’s clever, compelling and moving story is ideal for
sparking important conversations about sharing content online, without being
sensationalist. The message is ultimately one about living in the present and
enjoying the everyday moment of life in an authentic and happy way… one that is
sure to resonate with youngsters who are taking their first steps into the
internet.
(Scholastic, paperback, £7.99)
Advice from a 12-Year-Old Nobody
Helen Rutter and Julia Christians
EVERY child can sometimes feel alone and unheard so having a
mum who is an agony aunt is surely ideal. Or is it? In her moving, wise and empathetic tale about family and mental health,
Carnegie-shortlisted author and comedian Helen Rutter captures the quiet ache
of feeling alone and turns it into something hopeful and human. Vinny’s got problems… lots of them. His family is falling
apart and his best mates have dumped him for some really annoying girls. He
should be able to turn to his mum for help because she’s an online life coach
who answers other people’s problems for a living. But she’s too busy to see
that Vinny is really struggling. Unable to solve his own issues, Vinny starts
replying to unanswered posts on an old blog of his mum’s. At first the
solutions seem easy, and he can be as hilariously honest as any 12-year-old boy
would be, but what will happen when Vinny realises that he’s out of his depth? Beautifully observed, brought to life with Julia Christians’
illustrations, and published in Barrington Stoke’s dyslexia-friendly format, Advice
from a 12-Year-Old Nobody explores the fears and concerns that can grip
youngsters and reminds adults that sometimes they miss those important warning
signs of a troubled child.
(Barrington Stoke, paperback, £7.99)
Happiness According to Humphrey
Betty G Birney
WELCOME to the world of Humphrey the hamster, star of
American author Betty G Birney’s delightfully fun series which has been capturing
children’s hearts for twenty years. And to celebrate his landmark anniversary,
everyone’s favourite classroom pet is unsqueakably thrilled to be in a
NEW-NEW-NEW novel full of mischief and mayhem! A special guest is coming to
Room 26 but when Humphrey sees who it is, he’s SHOCKED-SHOCKED-SHOCKED. The
guest is a big dog and Mrs Brisbane doesn't seem worried at all. Luckily, this
dog is very gentle. His name is Happy and he’s come to help Humphrey’s
classmates with their reading. Then they hear about more dogs… a friendly one
who can do tricks and sing, and a beloved pet who has gone missing. Of course,
everyone wants to help find her. Good thing Humphrey is so good at helping kids
solve their problems and he pawsitively loves to solve a mystery… even one
involving a dog! With a fresh voice and an endearing hamster’s eye-view of
school, families, and treats to hide in a cheek pouch, Birney’s antics are sure
to bring lots of laughter… and a new love for classroom hamsters everywhere!
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
The Wonder of Life on Earth
Henry Gee and Raxenne Maniquiz
DISCOVER the story of life on Earth as you have never before
seen it! Fascinating facts about the planet and evolution are brought to vivid
life through stunning colour illustrations in this beautiful gift book for
budding ecologists. Written in 30 bite-size chapters by nature editor and author
of the award-winning A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth, Henry Gee, The
Wonder of Life on Earth tells the incredible and unlikely story of life on our
planet against the backdrop of botanical illustrator Raxenne Maniquiz’s vibrant
and richly detailed artwork. Billions of years of evolution are packed into 80 pages as
we journey through disasters, evolutionary oddities, and a planet shaped by
supervolcanoes, toxic air, and asteroids – always focusing on the most pivotal,
important moments. Maniquiz’s illustrations reveal strange and marvellous
creatures as we travel back in time to look inside bacteria and the first
cells, to the planet's first trees and plants, to the weird rangeomorphs, and
on to armoured fishes, dinosaurs, nimble mammals and resourceful apes and
primates. From the first tiny bubbles of life in the ocean to the arrival of
endlessly adaptable apes, planet Earth really is the ultimate survival story! Gee’s gripping narrative makes it easy to understand the
carbon cycle, natural selection, fossilisation and the galactic fluctuations
that have shaped the planet and the life on its surface. Complete with a
glossary, a timeline and a view into the future, this easy-to-read natural
history is perfect for younger readers.
(Two Hoots, hardback,
£20)
Chicken Hill: Attack of the Zombie Cactus
Beccy Blake
CALLING all UFO spotters, underwater explorers, zombie
cactus warriors and, last but not least, all comic fans! After a lifetime of
enjoying drawing (and reading!) comics, author and illustrator Beccy Blake has
filled her debut graphic novel with all the weird characters, strange creatures
and crazy capers that have been crowding into her imagination for years. So welcome to Chicken Hill, just your average, everyday,
run-of-the-mill small town where the pets can talk, the frogs rule over a
secret underwater empire and you’re only ever one day away from an alien
invasion. And join Ferdy, Gripper and Tink as they investigate all things
strange in their seriously loopy town. Ferdy is a tech wiz with a knack for
invention and a habit of running into trouble. Always with him is Gripper, his
farty and self-obsessed pug, and Tink, his brother’s forever-tired cat.
Together, they investigate the many wild and weird happenings in town. And
whether fending off an invasion of zombie cactuses, or trying to keep an army
of cloned conspiracy theorist cats out of office, there’s no shortage of things
to keep them busy. Because in Chicken Hill, there’s only one rule… if you think
things can’t get weirder, they always can. Youngsters can expect Fun (yes, that’s fun with a capital F)
as the Chicken Hill residents (and their creator!) work their comedy magic on three
hilarious short stories – brilliantly illustrated in a kaleidoscope of colour
and chaos – in one brilliantly weird graphic novel. More please!
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £8.99)
Write Your Own Family History
Jane Bingham
WHAT was school like for Grandma? What was your Great Uncle’s
first job? Who did this toy belong to? Create your own history journal and make
it a family heirloom to treasure with this brilliantly instructive and engrossing
introduction to writing your own family history. Written by Jane Bingham, and
packed with colourful illustrations, this easy-to-use, spiral-bound book encourages
young history detectives to discover more about the people, places and
significant events within their own locality and family. Discover what
information we can find out from old photos, documents and objects, and make a
note of useful suggestions for questions to ask older members of the community.
Topics to explore for your family history books include toys and games,
clothes, hairstyles, food, transport and holidays, and the book also provides a
compact way for children to record all their findings. Suitable for children
from any family background including adopted and fostered children, and with
ties to the Key Stage 1 and Foundation Stage History curriculum, which requires
children to talk about past and present events in their own lives and the lives
of family members, this is the perfect starter guide for all budding family
historians.
(Usborne Publishing, spiral-bound, £12.99)
The Far-Out Five: Snot Jelly Island
Olaf Falafel
WHAT do you get if you pair a group of kids and a grumpy
magician with a magical mega tornado… the answer is The Far-Out Five and a
quest to solve the mystery of Snot Jelly Island! Welcome to the first book of a
hilarious graphic novel series from author, illustrator and stand-up comedian
Olaf Falafel, and a brilliantly bonkers adventure. Starring a zany group of
friends who find themselves magically transformed into strange creatures, and
whisked far away from home when a funfair magic trick goes wrong, laughter is
set to ring out from first page to last. Stewart, Sophie, Zainab and Jeffrey’s world
got flipped and turned upside down when the Great Waldini’s trick got out of
control. Unfortunately, the wand that could change them back to normal is lost,
leaving a madcap team of adventurers which includes Spewnicorn, a punk unicorn
who vomits rainbows, Wally, a pompous and cowardly koala, Tubbs, a walking
bathtub, Bloof, a blue-footed booby, and Glossy Jeff, a really chilled-out
seal. Sailing across the ocean in Tubbs the bathtub, the Far-Out Five have to
face bizarre creatures, weird landscapes and mysterious tasks on their quest as
they try to find Wally’s missing wand and get back home. Can they escape the
wobbly statues of Snot Jelly Island? Giggles galore guaranteed!
(Puffin, paperback, £9.99)
Fairytale Fiasco: Cinderella
Myles McLeod and Evgenia Golubeva
MEET Cleo! She has a special power and with the help of her friend, Book Mark, she can launch herself into any fairy tale and try to fix all the things that go wrong. The problem is that it tends to turn into a fiasco and she has to use her courage and quick wit to save the day! This clever, colourful and enchanting new comic-form series is the creation of husband and wife team, author Myles McLeod and illustrator Evgenia Golubeva, and with contemporary, fresh retellings of familiar favourites, each with a brilliant twist, the books dish up everything to entice and entertain newly independent readers. Poor Cinderella is desperate to go to the ball, but even Cleo can’t charm her mean stepmother.
(Guppy Books, paperback, £7.99 each)
Rumpelstiltskin
Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis
THE classic tale of a nasty villain called Rumpelstiltskin –
first written down in Germany over 200 years ago by the Brothers Grimm – gets a
thoroughly modern makeover in this retelling by bestselling American author Mac
Barnett. Given extra life and vibrancy by the stylish illustrations of Carson
Ellis, whose artwork is inspired by folk art and mysticism, expect a
wonderfully subversive account of the age-old tale of good guys and a very bad
guy. Once upon a time there was a clever girl with a
not-so-clever father. When her father claims she can spin straw into gold, the
king forces the girl to perform this impossible task. She has no other choice
than to accept a strange deal from a mysterious little man. But when he arrives
and attempts to collect the debt, the fiendish trickster Rumpelstiltskin
discovers that he is the one who has been tricked! Spun with lies, and some brilliant twists from the ever
inventive and witty Barnett, and with the added delights of Ellis’ visual take
on the favourite tale, this is Rumpelstiltskin as you’ve never before seen him!
(Scholastic, hardback, £14.99)
When Tad Kicked Vlad
Julian Gough and Ross Collins
HERE'S a pure genius picture book that is guaranteed to blow
you away! The award-winning duo of Irish author Julian Gough and Glasgow-born
illustrator Ross Collins are on top form as they kick off the year with the
tale of shock, glee and a truly meteoric fart. In a moment of fury, induced by a piece of stolen cake, Tad
kicks his best friend Vlad and runs away to hide. Unable to retaliate, but
similarly feeling rather cross, Vlad kicks Tad’s mum who kicks the postman, who
kicks a policewoman who kicks a politician… until the kick travels around the
whole world! Only problem is that the kick land back up at Tad’s birthday party
a year on. But then there’s something WORSE than a kick now in circulation. What
on earth could be worse than a kick up the bum? It's up to Tad to wrestle with
his anger, break the cycle and send something far better off round the world. Delivering laughter (and farts!) aplenty, Gough and Collins
use slapstick comedy and a gallery of wonderfully anarchic filled illustrations
in this brilliantly clever riotous romp about a circle of violence and how it
finally gets broken. Ideal as a teaching tool for any child who has ever had an
outburst, When Tad Kicked Vlad is a classic in the making!
(Faber Children’s books, paperback, £7.99)
Sticky Mildred
Alastair Chisholm and Rikin Parekh
TEASE and tickle your little ones into enjoying being clean,
shiny and UNSTICKY with this chaotic caper from award-winning author Alastair
Chisholm and imaginative illustrator Rikin Parekh. Sticky Mildred – a hilarious
melee of mess, mayhem, and getting clean again – will have youngsters queueing
up for bath night. Mildred Honeyfur loves being sticky and refuses to have a
bath. She sets off to find the stickiest things in the world – doughnuts, pond
slime, toffees and glue – until she becomes a ball of stickiness, rolling
through the town sticking to everything… and everyone! Stuck in the ultimate
sticky situation, will Mildred ever be stopped? With Chisholm’s subtle,
fun-filled lessons about consequences and saying sorry, and Parekh’s
brilliantly anarchic illustrations, this surreal cautionary tale of cleanliness
is sure delight exasperated parents… and maybe make even the most reluctant
kids excited about bath time!
(Walker Books, paperback, £7.99)
Breathe Deep
Joanie Leeds and Bárbara Quintino
Take a deep breath and dive into the latest singalong
picture book from Barefoot Books. Read the story, listen to the song by
scanning the barcode on the back of the book, watch the animation, and then
sing along and dance with a soothing original lullaby by award-winning artiste
Joanie Leeds! Breathe Deep – packed with Bárbara Quintino’s colourful
illustrations – is the ideal way to calm little ones’ bodies and mind before
bedtime. The gentle lyrics and soothing music guide children through a
mindfulness exercise, bringing awareness to different parts of their bodies
before they breathe deep and count from one to ten. And with endnotes providing
more mindfulness activities to aid winding down and relaxing, parents and
carers will be breathing easier at bedtime!
(Barefoot Books, paperback, £7.99)
New Boots: A Cedric & Boo Book
Tim Hopgood
A PAIR of shiny red boots becomes an unlikely battleground
in a delightful board book from award-winning author and illustrator Tim
Hopgood. Boo the elephant has just bought some new, shiny boots. So shiny that
he can see his face in them! He absolutely does not want them to get dirty so
he decides not to play outside any more. But when he sees his best friend,
Cedric the crocodile, at the park, he can’t help but join him running through
the autumn leaves. His boots get all muddy, but maybe his friendship with
Cedric and the fun they have together is more important after all? Hopwood
works his storytelling magic and picture perfect talents on this heartwarming
tale as the adorable Cedric and Boo discover that friendship really is the key
to happiness!
(Walker Books, board
book, £7.99)
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